What makes for a great family movie? It’s one of those things that’s hard to describe, but you tend to know one when you see it. It’s a movie that both kids and adults can enjoy, they tend to send you on an adventure, and they’re movies that you’d be very happy to watch on a cozy Sunday evening. Plus, they’re often very good for repeated viewings — you just never get tired of watching an awesome family movie. 

Indiana Jones

There is oh so much to love about Indiana Jones. It’s fun, it’s humorous, it’s historical, and you don’t know what will happen next. It’s pretty much the perfect franchise, especially since kids and adults seem to love it in equal measure. All of the movies have their merits, but the best has to be Raiders of the Lost Ark, the first installment in the franchise. If you’re an adult, then the chances are that you’ve already seen that movie a bunch of times — and that you loved it every single time. Once you become a parent, you’ll have the privilege of introducing your kids to the movie and seeing their reactions. Though it’s more than forty years old, it still packs a powerful punch. 

Shrek

You’ve probably never met anyone who doesn’t like Shrek. And there’s a simple reason for that — it’s amazing! It’s a highly unique movie that takes viewers on a magical yet oddly relatable journey, and there’s a pretty great underlying message, too. The strength of the movie lies in the quality of the characters, which are among some of the best that you’ll ever see on the animated screen. Even the bad guy, Lord Farquaad from Shrek, is so fascinating that you can’t really hate him (well, you can, but you have to admit that he’s pretty entertaining). Choose this as your next family movie, and we promise that you and your little ones will love your selection. 

Jurassic Park

No one needs to be reminded of the magic of Jurassic Park. The 1993 classic brought what we all wanted to see, dinosaurs, to the big screen. And it did it in such a magical way. There’s terror, there’s awe, there’s everything. It’s one of those movies that every family should watch at least once, though the sheer awesomeness of it means you’ll be happy to watch it again and again. While the sequels aren’t quite as good as the original, they're still worth a watch, so you’ll have plenty of movies to add to your list! 

Star Wars

The ultimate family movie! The original Star Wars was released more than 45 years ago and is rightly regarded as an all-out classic. Who could forget the first time they say the opening rolling narrative credits? If you have slightly older children, then it’s highly worth setting aside some time to watch the movies in order. The magic of Star Wars is that the universe is so large that you’ll have a near-endless supply of entertainment, providing your children like it. Which, if they’re like most people, they will. 

Mary Poppins

This one is, admittedly, a little bit more of a risk for family movie night. It’s not guaranteed that your kids will love Mary Poppins, especially if they’re used to action scenes. But if you’re looking sweet, different, and quaint, then we can’t recommend Mary Poppins highly enough. Aside from being entertaining, it’ll also show your children a world that no longer exists — but which can exist for them if they let the magic of Mary Poppins into their hearts! 

Pirates of the Caribbean

The seven seas, pirates, monsters: Pirates of the Caribbean has a little bit of everything, and it’s little surprise that many people cite this franchise as their all-time favorite. Don’t look for too much depth or anything like that: this is all about fun. Thankfully, the storyline is so robust and well-handled that all of the outlandish aspects work very well. It’s an adventure!  

Harry Potter

As with most movies on this list, Harry Potter is a movie franchise that needs no introduction! What’s not to love about a charming wizard school set somewhere in England? There’s good, there’s evil, there’s love, there’s pretty much everything you’d want to find in a family movie — and you’ll be thoroughly entertained every step of the way. Plus, since they’re relatively recent, these movies can sometimes be more appealing than older movies such as Star Wars. We do have to warn you, though: your children might begin talking in an English accent once they’ve seen all the movies. 

Hugo

You wouldn’t normally associate Martin Scorsese with family friendly movies. In fact, you should go out of your way to ensure that your children don’t see his movies until they’re old enough. But Hugo is different. This fascinating story takes place in Paris and follows the life of Hugo, who becomes embroiled in a mystery relating to his late father. It’s not a movie that you always see on the best family movies to watch, but we promise you won’t be disappointed if you decide to put it on with your kids. 

The Marvel Movies